MUSICAL THEATRE:

AN INTRODUCTION
PARTICULARLY DISNEY MUSICALS!
 WHAT'S YOUR
FAVOURITE DISNEY
FILM AND SONG?
INGREDIENTS FOR MUSICAL THEATRE

LYRICS LIBRETTO SCORE

CHOREOGRAPHY CASTING STORY

OPENING NUMBER

• FULL COMPANY NUMBER, EVERYONE SINGS!

• INTRODUCES THE AUDIENCE TO THE SETTING, THE CHARACTERS, THE STYLE OF MUSIC
• OFTEN INTRODUCES OUR MAIN CHARACTER
• HIGH ENERGY TO GRAB PEOPLE'S INTEREST STRAIGHT AWAY – FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE IMPORTANT!
• EXAMPLES: THIS IS HALLOWEEN, CIRCLE OF LIFE, THE SECOND STAR TO THE RIGHT
THE "I WANT" SONG

• TELLS THE AUDIENCE THE GOALS AND DREAMS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER
• USUALLY A BALLAD – SLOWER, MORE TUNEFUL, GENTLE AND SOFT
• GIVES THE SHOW A GOAL TO WORK TOWARDS
• EXAMPLES – ALMOST THERE, JUST AROUND THE RIVERBEND, HOW FAR I'LL GO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
FOREVER, I'M WISHING
• CONTRAST WITH THE "I AM" SONG WHICH DESCRIBES A CHARACTER – FOR EXAMPLE, GASTON
CHARM SONG

• A FUN, UPBEAT SONG THAT OFTEN DOESN'T TIE IN TO THE PLOT – IT'S JUST FUN!
• USUALLY SUNG BY A SECONDARY CHARACTER OR SIDEKICK
• CATCHY TUNES WITH SIMPLE CHORUSES – EASY TO SING ALONG TO!
• CALLED A CHARM SONG AS IT'S MEANT TO GET THE AUDIENCE TO LIKE A CHARACTER
• CAN STILL OFTEN REVEAL A LOT ABOUT THE WORLD OR CERTAIN CHARACTERS
• EXAMPLES – BE OUR GUEST, UNDER THE SEA, HAKUNA MATATA, YOU'RE WELCOME, IN SUMMER
LOVE SONG

• YOU ALL KNOW WHAT A LOVE SONG IS

• BIT GROSS BUT WE'LL ALLOW IT IF THE TUNE IS NICE
• OFTEN SLOW DUET BALLADS, LOTS OF HARMONY, 
• LESS COMMON IN MODERN DISNEY
• SOMETIMES THE LOVE SONG IS TURNED ON ITS HEAD – EG, I WON'T SAY I'M IN LOVE
• EXAMPLES: LOVE IS AN OPEN DOOR, A WHOLE NEW WORLD, CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT, MA
BELLE EVANGELINE
REPRISES

• TAKING THE TUNE OF A PREVIOUS SONG AND SINGING IT AGAIN FOR ADDED IMPACT
• OFTEN SHOWS HOW MUCH A CHARACTER HAS GROWN OR THEIR TRUE FEELINGS 
• SOMETIMES A HEROIC SONG CAN BE STOLEN BY THE VILLAIN -  A DARK REPRISE
• EXAMPLES: MOTHER KNOWS BEST, BELLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER, I'LL MAKE A MAN OUT OF
YOU
ELEVEN O'CLOCK NUMBER

• SONG JUST BEFORE THE BIG FINALE – OFTEN CONTAINS EXCITING PARTS OF THE STORY!
• NAMED BECAUSE SHOWS USED TO START MUCH LATER (AROUND 8:45) AND THIS SONG WOULD
HAPPEN AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK
• VERY VERY UPBEAT WITH A BIG BUILD TO PUSH THE EXCITEMENT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
• OFTEN CONTAINS A REALISATION OR BIG CHANGE FOR THE MAIN CHARACTER 
• EXAMPLES: SHOW YOURSELF, THE MOB SONG, SAVAGES, FIXER UPPER
DISNEY STAGE MUSICALS

• FIRST DISNEY STAGE MUSICAL OPENED IN 1994 WHICH WAS...

• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!
• SEVERAL DISNEY SHOWS HAVE SINCE BEEN TURNED INTO STAGE SHOWS
• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LION KING, TARZAN, ALADDIN, FROZEN, THE JUNGLE BOOK, HERCULES, THE
HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, PINOCCHIO, NEWSIES, FREAKY FRIDAY, MARY POPPINS, HIGH SCHOOL
MUSICAL AND THE LITTLE MERMAID
• SEVERAL OTHER DISNEY SHOWS ARE PERFORMED ON DISNEY CRUISE SHIPS INCLUDING TANGLED,
FINDING NEMO AND TOY STORY